4 Benefits of Focusing on Jesus

When Peter stepped out of the boat and began to walk on water, he experienced a miracle. Certainly, what Peter experienced was literally phenomenal. But something happened. Peter took his eyes off of Jesus, and when he did, he began to sink.

But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. (Matthew 14:30, NLT)

Peter took his eyes off of the Lord, put them on the storm, and disrupted the miracle.

Believer, please hear me - and preachers especially. If in this hour we take the focus off of Jesus, we will sink. Our futures will sink. Our ministries will sink. We will sink.

Don’t allow the winds and waves of chaos to steal your focus. Jesus must remain your focus.

When Jesus remains your focus, several things happen.

#1 Perfect Peace

Firstly, when Jesus remains your focus, your heart is filled with perfect peace.

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. (Isaiah 26:3, KJV)

#2 True Unity

Secondly, when Jesus remains your focus, you’ll experience true unity with fellow believers. Focused on the Lord, you won’t become distracted by the winds and waves of this carnal world. When we focus on Jesus, we focus on what unites us, rather than on what has the potential to divide us.

Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13, NLT)

#3 Spiritual Stability

Thirdly, when Jesus remains your focus, you will be firmly established. You won’t be moved by every opinion and trend. You’ll abide faithfully, steadfastly. Nothing will be able to shake you. Your faith will remain intact, even in difficult times.

Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. (Matthew 7:24, NLT)

#4 Effectiveness

Finally, when Jesus remains your focus, you remain effective. For the past several weeks, I have been emphasizing this truth: “Jesus is still the answer, and the gospel is still the mission.” I’m happy to see that message spreading. The reason I emphasize this is because, in trying times, in confusing times, we have the tendency to get off message. When Jesus remains your focus, He remains your message. And when Jesus remains your message, you remain effective.

For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. (1 Corinthians 2:2, NLT)

So let the winds and the waves rage. Keep your eyes on Jesus. When the storm passes, you don’t want to look back in shame. You don’t want to look back and remember yourself falling apart, losing faith, being controlled by your emotions, or sinking. When you look back at the days of the storm, you’ll want to say, “I stood faithful. I kept my integrity. I kept my purity, my joy, my love, my peace. In the middle of the storm, I kept my eyes on Jesus.”

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The Healing Touch of Jesus

The woman with the issue of blood. The blind beggar. The paralyzed man. These are just some of the many Biblical examples of people who experienced the healing touch of Jesus. 

And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole. (Mark 6:56, KJV)

I love the way the Scripture words that: “…as many as touched him were made whole.”

And the wonderful reality is that Jesus still heals. Nowhere in all of Scripture does it teach that Jesus has stopped working miracles.

Everything Jesus was anointed to do while here on the earth, the Holy Spirit continues to do for and through us.

I’ve seen it with my own eyes - miracles of healing. The blind see, the deaf hear, the mute speak, the paralyzed move, and the afflicted are set free from their pain. Years of suffering, seasons of pain, can all come to an end. 

I recall one instance in particular. A little girl attended one of my services with her mother. The girl had developed crooked legs. Her legs were turned inward. That little girl and her mother came to the service believing for a miracle. They came early but could only find seats in the back of the building. Nevertheless, they persisted in faith, knowing that God’s healing touch could reach them even where they were. 

During the worship, they began to believe for the miracle to take place, for the little girl’s legs to straighten. Though nothing happened immediately, the little girl insisted that Jesus would heal her. After the service had ended, they began to drive home. The miracle had yet to transpire. But sitting there in the car, that little girl held on to hope. Suddenly, the girl began to hear a popping sound. She remarked to her mother, “Mom, do you hear that? Something is popping like popcorn!” 

They didn’t know it until the next morning, but that girl’s legs had become perfectly straight. To their joy and amazement, the miracle had happened. 

A miracle can instantaneously turn any situation around. The lesson to be learned is one of simple faith. Don’t worry; only believe. And keep believing, because any moment can be your miracle moment.

There’s no trick to it. There’s no formula, no method, no special approach - it’s just the healing power of God meeting simple faith.

So reach out in faith and touch Him. All it takes is a single touch from the hand of Jesus to make you whole. That same mighty power which flowed through the very body of Jesus, that same healing virtue, still rushes like a river today. Jump into the river of healing.

Be encouraged. Yesterday, today, and forever, our Jesus, the Jesus of the Bible, is a healing Jesus.

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We Won't Be Silent

There’s little doubt that the world is becoming increasingly anti-Christ. As hatred toward God intensifies, so will hatred toward His Church. Mark my words: more pressure will come against the Church. 

This is why it’s so important for every believer, every pastor, every Christian, to be grounded in the Word of God and in the Holy Spirit. We can advance and impact the world, even in the face of opposition, but we must be willing to stay faithful to the preaching of the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ. 

Let he who has eyes to see, see. Let he who has ears to hear, hear. There is a demonic agenda at work. The enemy’s goal is to confuse, intimidate, divide, isolate, and silence the Church. Many in this world do not want to hear the message of repentance, the truth about the blood of Jesus, or the reality of the cross. 

So there will be a pressure for us to conform, to be silent. They will threaten us with reputation-destroying labels. They will attempt to manipulate us with guilt. They will work tirelessly to silence us, to silence the preaching of the gospel. Like the religious leaders who were tormented by the preaching of Stephen the martyr, so today’s culture covers its ears and cries for us to be silent. The systems of the world are no doubt working against the Church.

This hour calls for bold, righteous, Spirit-filled believers.

Remember that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were pressured to bow to the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had created. Society bowed. Some of God’s people bowed. Everyone bowed. Everyone except the faithful three. 

The young men were threatened with death - they were to be thrown in a fiery furnace. When faced with this threat, the young men gave a courageous response: 

“If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” (Daniel 3:17-18, NLT)

We too must have the courage to obey God; whatever happens to us as a result of our obedience is up to Him. We’ve laid down our lives anyway. 

Like in the days of Nebuchadnezzar, a statue has been created, and the system calls for all to bow: that statue is conformity to the ways and ideologies of the world. Conformity is exalted. Dissent is aggressively stifled. Society bows. Sadly, some pastors even bow. You must not bow.

When we stop preaching to truth, when we alter God’s Word to better suit the preferences of this generation, we’re bowing to conformity. When we stop declaring repentance from sin and salvation alone through Jesus, we’ve been bullied into conformity. 

Don’t conform to culture; confront it. Confront it by preaching Christ and Him crucified.

Preachers especially, we must stop weighing our words against what might offend the world. No, the goal isn’t to offend anyone, but if our preaching of Jesus becomes offensive, preach Him anyway. We need to be more concerned about souls than about our reputations, more attentive to the voice of the Holy Spirit than to our marketing strategies. We’re not celebrities; we’re servants of God. We’re preachers, not puppets. Too many are being consulted by culture instead of by the Word of God. God didn’t give you a platform to play it safe. He raised you to spread His Word - that souls might be saved. 

Cry aloud. Spare not. Sound the alarm. This is a spiritual war for the soul of a generation. 

You may be pressured into silence. Preach the gospel anyway.

You may be threatened by the social media mob. Preach the gospel anyway. 

Let them mock you, threaten you, accuse you, and cancel you. The world needs to hear the message of salvation. 

Stay on message. Focus on the mission. Jesus is still the answer. The gospel is still the mission. How we go down is history is of no importance compared to how we go down in eternity. 

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The Unity of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit belongs to every believer. 

He is for the experienced and the new believer alike. The Holy Spirit is not a reward for the super-spiritual (if every there was such a group). The Holy Spirit is the only chance any of us have at being spiritual.

The Holy Spirit is for both the spiritually strong and the spiritually struggling. He does not abandon us when we fail, and we never stop needing Him, even when we succeed. 

Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have been called by the Lord our God.” (Acts 2:38-39, NLT)

The Holy Spirit, the Promise of the Father, is for all Who believe. 

Though I sometimes fit into the Charismatic category, I assure you that neither the Holy Spirit nor His baptism is reserved exclusively for Pentecostals or Charismatics. We do not have a monopoly on His Person or power. He is non-denominational. His fiery essence burns away the dry brush of barriers between brethren. He offers His assistance to all Christ-centered stripes, creeds, cultures and methodologies. The Holy Spirit cares more about the Christ in your heart than the name of your church. He’s for all who call Jesus Lord.

The Holy Spirit is multi-cultural and multi-generational. 

He works in the TV preacher, and the missionary on the foreign field.

He is not racist, sexist or prejudice. 

He is for the young and the old…

The poets and the intellectuals…

The mature believers and the new converts…

The wealthy and the poverty-stricken…

The left and the right and the middle…

The sick and the healthy…

The introvert and the extrovert…

Ministers and business people…

The creative and the cerebral…

The organized and the spontaneous…

Parents and spouses…

Son and daughters…

The Holy Spirit is for all believers, and His love brings us all together.

Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13, NLT)

The Holy Spirit in me loves the Jesus in you. If Jesus is your king, if God is your Father, if the Holy Spirit dwells in you, then we are one. 

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The Myth of Generational Curses on Christians

Within Christian circles, we often find superstitions that seem Biblical but in fact are myths. Now, let me be clear: if you’ve followed this ministry for any length of time at all, you know that I unapologetically preach the Word of God. You know that I believe in God’s healing power, the gift of speaking in tongues, spiritual warfare, the reality of angels and demons, and so forth - I believe in the supernatural. In fact, most of my critics are of the belief that I’m too extreme and that I too often emphasize the power of the Holy Spirit. If you’ve been to any of my ministry meetings, you know that the Holy Spirit freely moves - people are saved, healed, delivered, and set free. 

Having said that, we must come to terms with the fact that not every supernatural experience or spiritual belief is founded upon truth. This is why we shouldn’t form our beliefs around feelings and experiences; we should form our beliefs upon the truth, the Word, the leading of the Holy Spirit. 

There is this idea, this lie, that Christians can be under a generational curse. A generational curse is spiritual demon or bondage that is passed down from generation to generation. It can also be defined as some kind of punishment from God that comes upon people because of the sins of their former generations.

Now, in some sense, this is a reality. Behavior begets behavior. Upbringing creates mindset which repeats upbringing. But there is a difference between a cycle and a curse. I believe in generational inclinations, generational patterns, and even in generational behaviors. For example, alcoholic parents often raise children who themselves grow up to become alcoholics. In choosing to repeat the decisions of their parents, they open themselves to the same habits.

But this idea that the believer can be under some kind of demonic or dark influence because of the choices of their parents is just not Biblical. 

So from where does this idea come? Partially, people believe this because of personal experience. In repeating the decisions and cycles of former generations, they sometimes look for somewhere to place the blame. But again, experience isn’t always the best foundation for truth. 

Another source of this belief is poor Biblical interpretation. Here’s one of the more often used verses that believers use to justify a belief in generational curses upon Christians: 

You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, (Exodus 20:5, ESV)

Now, at a glance, that verse seems to indicate that generational curses are a definite reality. Almost.

Notice that in the verse, however, there is a condition laid out: “You shall not bow down to them or serve them”

This verse, and all of the Old Testament verses that are similar, have something in common: they are all set to a larger backdrop of choice. In other words, by repeating the choices of former generations, one become susceptible to similar consequences and punishments. There is no blanket statement in all of Scripture that should cause us to accept this idea that God curses believers based upon the choices of previous generations.

If God cursed believers for generational sins, wouldn’t praying against such curses be working against God’s will? Does God have to fight with Himself to liberate you? No. So, in fact, the Bible does not teach generational curses; but it definitely teaches generational consequences. 

The person who sins is the one who will die. The child will not be punished for the parent’s sins, and the parent will not be punished for the child’s sins. Righteous people will be rewarded for their own righteous behavior, and wicked people will be punished for their own wickedness. (Ezekiel 18:20, NLT)

So then God does not hold us accountable for the decisions of others, even if they are the decisions of our former generations. God deals with each individual on the basis of the decisions that they make. 

Some believers look for exterior circumstances to blame for their current spiritual state. They don’t want to take responsibility for their own sins. But the good and the sobering news is that God holds the individual accountable. Do you know why you sin? It’s because you love sin, and you choose to sin. Do you know why you can’t fully commit? It’s because you choose to not fully commit. A lack of prayer, holiness, worship, or devotion to God’s Word isn’t a generational curse; it’s a choice. It’s easier to blame some exterior or demonic force working against you than it is to repent. That is deception. Yes, demonic powers work against you, but you’ve been given authority over them.

The good news is that your decision to accept the free gift of salvation has the powerful consequence of broken curses.

But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” (Galatians 3:13, NLT)

Christ broke the curse. There’s no ritual to perform, no series of fancy prayers to recite - you’re free if you’ll just walk in that freedom. As a child of God, you’ve been given the power to rise above whatever the enemy might try to throw at you.

For the believer, every curse was broken the moment they were redeemed. So then, when it comes to generational curses, the only power any curse might have is your belief in its power over you.

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Holy Spirit School

This is a special blog update. The Holy Spirit School is now open. I’m so thrilled to invite you to the Holy Spirit School online. If you desire to go deeper in the Word and walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, this is for you. 

Now, there are many things that make the Holy Spirit School unique. Firstly, I don’t think it’s Biblical to put the Word of God behind a pay wall. That’s why all Bible-based e-courses at the Holy Spirit School are free. No catch. No gimmicks. I don’t mean that only the first lesson of each course is free. I don’t mean that halfway through a course you’ll have to pay to view the rest. You won’t need a credit card, PayPal, or any other payment information to take one of our e-courses. I mean free. Because of the generous support of our monthly world changer partners, we can offer courses for free. Freely we have received, so freely we give.

Another unique quality about the Holy Spirit school is our Word and Spirit approach to learning and growing spiritually. You will see, hear, and feel the difference. The power of the Holy Spirit meets grounded, Biblical, balanced teaching in each e-course. We cover deeply spiritual topics in a practical way.

Additionally, we choose topics not so often addressed in Bible learning programs - prayer, spiritual warfare, the Holy Spirit, the anointing, and such topics and themes are presented with high quality video production and a state-of-the-art e-course learning experience.

Each course comes with free digital downloads, testing and evaluation, and a certificate of completion with a passing grade. 

The first course we are offering is a nine-part course, “An Introduction to the Holy Spirit.”

If you’re ready, you can begin your learning experience right this very moment by going to www.HolySpiritSchool.com

Holy Spirit School: Word and Spirit

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Welcome the Holy Spirit

If Jesus needed the Holy Spirit, how much more do we? If Jesus relied upon the Holy Spirit, how much more should we?

…how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. (Acts 10:38)

Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit to carry out His ministry. We too must be empowered by the Holy Spirit. Without the power of the Holy Spirit, churches are just clubs, preachers are just motivational speakers, ministry is just charity, and our faith is just a culture. Methods cannot replace miracles. Programs cannot replace power. Systems cannot replace the Spirit.

We need the power of the Holy Spirit. We must welcome Him in our lives and in our ministries. We’re helpless without Him. The Holy Spirit can accomplish more in a single moment than you or I could ever accomplish in a hundred years of striving. 

Sadly, the Holy Spirit is rejected in many places around the world - and even in churches.

Believer, it’s time to surrender all, to embrace the fullness of what is available to you by the Holy Spirit. We must move beyond just tolerating Him and learn to rely on Him completely. We mustn’t treat Him like an obligation, for He was there at the birth of the Church - the wind and the fire that empowered the early believers to carry the gospel around the world. 

In a Church culture consumed by “growth strategies” and “marketing ventures”, it’s all too easy to forget about the breath of the Spirit. Once the Holy Spirit breathes upon a life or a ministry, there is growth and power without measure. There’s no Church growth strategy, no clever means of maneuvering, that can replace the Holy Spirit. He is the ultimate Church growth expert, a leader of leaders, the author of the bestselling book of all time, and the One Who knows best how to grow the Church in this hour. 

Don’t strive; surrender to the Holy Spirit.

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The Truth About Church

You’ve heard it said, “I don’t go to Church; I am the Church.” You’ve also likely heard the often repeated phrase, “Outside the four walls of the Church.” Though such sayings are usually innocent and almost accurate, they are many times used as excuses to live disconnected from other believers.

Certainly, we are to each develop a personal relationship with the Lord, and, of course, we should seek to spread the gospel to people who do not themselves attend church. But we are taught in the Scripture to assemble together as believers.

24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24 & 25, NLT)

The Bible is clear: believers are to regularly gather together. There’s something about gathering that stirs the soul and spirit - it strengthens your faith.

12 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. 14 Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. 15 If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? 18 But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. 19 How strange a body would be if it had only one part! (1 Corinthians 12:12 & 14-19, NLT)

The body does not consist of one part. You yourself do not make up the Church in its entirety. It is the togetherness of individual believers that makes up the body.

Think of how difficult it would be to fulfill certain commands in isolation. How would one use their spiritual gifts in isolation if they’re away from other members of the body? How are we to lay hands on the sick if we never connect with each other? Loving, demonstrating patience, forgiving, fellowshipping, sharing meals, encouraging - all of that requires closeness and connectivity. 

So don’t let the enemy keep you from gathering. He is a defeated foe.

Don’t allow governments to keep you from gathering. Many fellow believers have given their lives in times of tyranny.

Don’t allow bitterness to keep you from gathering. There is healing in connectivity.

Don’t allow apathy to keep you from gathering. Keep your spiritual fire burning. 

Don’t allow self-reliance to keep you from gathering. We all need each other.

The notion that the individual alone makes up the body of Christ just isn’t Biblical. Yes, we are the body of Christ, but we are the body of Christ together. 

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God Over Government

The Bible makes it clear that, as believers, we are to honor and obey governing authorities.

Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 2 So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. 3 For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. 4 The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. 5 So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience. (Romans 13:1-5, NLT)

Romans 13 is specifically referring to situations where the government is enforcing just and moral laws - for the Scripture says, “They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong.” By obeying the laws of the land, we keep a clear conscience. Only those who do what is wrong should fear the government. But what happens when doing what is right is prohibited by a governing authority? 

What are we to do when the government itself becomes corrupt or puts laws in place that are anti-Biblical? There are actually several examples in Scripture of civil disobedience.

The Hebrew midwives disobeyed Pharaoh’s order to murder baby boys. They disobeyed the law of the land. (Exodus 1:17)

Obadiah hid the prophets of God from Jezebel - in doing so, he disobeyed the governing authority. (1 Kings 18:4)

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego disobeyed the laws of the land that commanded them to bow to and worship a statue of the king. (Daniel 3)

The early church disobeyed the laws of the land by proclaiming the gospel.

27Then they brought the apostles before the high council, where the high priest confronted them. 28“We gave you strict orders never again to teach in this man’s name!” he said. “Instead, you have filled all Jerusalem with your teaching about him, and you want to make us responsible for his death!” 29But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority. (Acts 5:27-29, NLT)

Even today, persecuted churches around the world meet in underground services. They do so at the risk of their own lives. 

It is clear, from both Scripture and church history, that whenever the church is faced with the decision to obey God’s Word or the Government’s laws, we are to choose obedience to God’s Word. 

And that’s not always easy. The right thing to do isn’t always clear. Programmed, hypnotized mobs and masses of people wag their fingers at anyone willing to stand for truth. Thinking themselves virtuous for repeating the popular opinions of the day, many well-meaning people can actually become hindrances to the truth. 

They say, “You’re setting a bad example.” But shouldn’t our example be to obey God?

They say, “You’re going to cause us to lose what freedoms we have.” But if the exercise of a freedom can cause me to lose it, is it really a freedom? What then would be the point of having that freedom if I’m not free to carry it out without losing it? 

They say, “Love your neighbor.” Is standing for truth not loving?

Disobedience toward the Word of God - whether done in the name of love, convenience, or even safety - is ultimately still disobedience. 

My point is simple: we ought to work with and honor governing authorities, even in the difficult-to-navigate circumstances. But when a clear line is crossed, we must be willing to respectfully resist. As much as is possible, work together with governing authorities. But if their hands become so heavy that we cannot move, if their demands become so unreasonable that we cannot practice all of God’s commands, then it is time for action.

And, believer, it is time for action.

It’s simple: if ever there is a conflict between what we are commanded to do in Scripture and what we are commanded to do by a government, we are to obey the Word of God. Always. No exceptions.

Let us not trade obedience in the name of safety and peace. Let us not act in fear and call it wisdom.

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Walking in God's Perfect Will

What has God called you to do? What is His perfect will concerning your life?

Right off the top, we can find some general direction for every believer. There are certain assignments and commands that apply to all of us. 

We know that every believer is called to:

Live holy (1 Peter 1:16)

Evangelize (Mark 16:15)

Worship (John 4:24)

Pray (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Know God’s Word (Colossians 3:16)

Demonstrate love (Luke 10:27)

Serve in the Church (1 Peter 4:10)

But beyond that, specifically, what has God called you to do?

When looking to answer this question, there are two traps about which you need to be aware. While seeking God’s will for you life, you must avoid both presumption and paralysis. Both presumption and paralysis will keep you from fulfilling God’s perfect will for your life. 

The trap of presumption works by luring its victims into using a pace of life that is too fast to allow for a pause in which one can hear the instructions of God. The presumptuous rarely pray about their decisions. They forge ahead without checking the map. They may move quickly and they may even build something that appears to be fruitful. But if you rush ahead of God’s instruction, you also rush ahead of His protection, provision, and peace. Never really taking the time to establish a foundation for any one phase of life, the presumptuous have to keep stumbling forward in order to catch their footing. The high-pressure cycle destroys their joy and gratitude.

The trap of paralysis works by holding its prey captive to fear. So afraid of doing something that God did not call them to do, the spiritually paralyzed settle for doing next-to-nothing at all. They embrace fear and call it wisdom. Like the servant who buried his talent, the fearful assume that God will reward their play-it-safe strategy - but that’s not the case.

Of course, there’s a Biblical balance to all of this. 

I believe in taking action, moving forward, and even in taking risks. Otherwise, where would be the need for faith? But we must avoid presumption. 

And I believe in the process before the platform. I believe that God uses seasons of hiddenness to prepare His servants for ministry. I believe in being attentive to hear God’s instructions. But we must break free from spiritual paralysis. 

So how are we to move forward? The answer, of course, is seen in scripture. 

Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time. Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there. So instead, they went on through Mysia to the seaport of Troas. (Acts 16:6-8, NLT)

The Lord had to correct Paul’s course. The fact that Paul had to change directions in the middle of his journey proves to us that he didn’t pray about every detail of his missionary journey. Rather, he saw where there was a need and then sought to fill that need using what God had entrusted to Him. 

We are instructed as we Go. 

So those who lean toward being presumptuous are rescued by the voice of the Holy Spirit. So long as they remain attentive to God’s voice through a lifestyle of prayer and the Word, they have a safety net. God can correct them as they move. 

And the paralyzed don’t need to be immobile. They don’t have to believe those superstitious, unbiblical myths about God being easily angered by our missteps. They can just look for the need and seek to fill it with what God has given to them. 

Now, how do you fulfill the specific, perfect will of God for your life? You take all that God has given to you - time, resources, influence, talents, gifts, energy - and you use it to further the gospel. Your specific abilities being used to fulfill God’s general mandate - that’s the perfect will of God. It’s that simple. So long as you remain attentive to His voice, He can correct your course. But you need to be going to be guided. 

Thankfully, we need not to trust in our own ability to know God’s will, but rather in His ability to reveal it.

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The Word and the Spirit

The Spirit gives inspiration. The Word gives information. Together, they become revelation, and revelation brings transformation. 

That’s the way it’s been since the beginning - the Spirit and the Word working together. Think of the creation narrative in the very first chapter of Genesis. The Holy Spirit hovered above the face of the deep when God spoke all things into existence. God the Father gave the command, the Word was released, and the power of the Holy Spirit partnered with that Word to bring about creation.

You need the Holy Spirit to teach you the Word. 

But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. (1 Corinthians 2:14, NLT)

And you need the Word to be properly taught by the Holy Spirit.

But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. (John 14:26, NLT)

If you don’t have the Word, with what will the Spirit teach you? If you don’t listen to the Holy Spirit, how will you truly understand the Word?

There are two kinds of believers.

The free spirit has trouble with developing and with seeing the need for a disciplined devotion to the Word. 

The analytical mind has trouble with surrendering to the Holy Spirit. 

In each and every one of us, there’s a change that needs to take place in order for us to experience the fullness of what God offers. For every kind of believer, there is a side to God that will confront that believer. 

On one hand, we have those who imagine that being a disciple of Christ is aimless wandering - they think that spirituality demands no discipline or structure. These believers despise the Biblical structure of the Church, have issues with accountability, are uncomfortable with the idea of spiritual authority, and often mishandle the Scriptures. They wander into Christian superstitions and develop weird, unbiblical ideas. They applaud when their teachers toss aside the Word in order to “flow with the Spirit.” They know the gifts but not the glory.

On the other hand, we have those who pride themselves in their knowledge of Biblical texts. These believers tend to be judgmental and unnecessarily critical. Hiding behind phrases like “Defending the Faith” and “Exposing False Teachers”, they become bitter and religious - rarely ever actually accomplishing anything for the sake of the gospel themselves. They applaud when their leaders hurl mean-spirited insults at fellow preachers of the gospel. Claiming “Christ Alone”, what they actually mean is “Chirst” plus believe every doctrine exactly as they believe it.

In this hour, neither extreme will do. God is raising a people of both Word and Spirit. This is the new move of the Holy Spirit. You can have both power and truth, joy and holiness, supernatural manifestation and Biblical postulation. We need both Word and Spirit. The Word of God is the building material of the Spirit. It is with the Word that the Holy Spirit creates. The Word is the substance, the actualizing material used by the Spirit to bring forth something real and lasting.

The two streams are coming together to make one river - the people of the Word are uniting with the people of the Spirit. The result will be a move of God that is free but not chaotic, energized but not disorderly. The clear, true gospel of salvation will be presented with miraculous demonstration. The miraculous will not be neglected, but neither will miracles become the focus. There will be a depth of the Word, and a surrender to the Spirit. It’s happening now - a beautiful balanced move of God is upon us. A move of both the Word and the Spirit.

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Can You Lose the Holy Spirit?

Can you lose the Holy Spirit? Will the Holy Spirit ever leave a believer? Can you exhaust His patience with your many mistakes and repeated sins? 

All too often, I’m approached by Christians who are filled with fear and doubt - they wonder if they have finally gone too far. They imagine that their most recent mistakes have done them in, disqualified them from fellowship with the Holy Spirit.

To be clear: I’m not writing about losing your salvation. That’s an entirely different topic which would require another blog altogether. 

What I’m addressing here is the idea that a Christian can be abandoned by the Holy Spirit. Let’s settle the matter now by looking at what Jesus said:

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. (John 14:16-17, NLT)

The Holy Spirit doesn’t abandon us when we make mistakes; instead, He remains to rescue us from ourselves. Think of all that Jesus taught concerning forgiveness and patience, and then realize that God keeps to His own standards of mercy.

The Holy Spirit abides faithfully, patiently, working with us to overcome the worst parts of our humanity. The Holy Spirit is not a reward for the spiritually elite, if ever such a group existed. The Holy Spirit is our only chance at truly being spiritual. What sense would it make for God to withdraw from us our power to be holy as punishment for not meeting standards of holiness? 

The Holy Spirit’s patience is by no means an encouragement to go on sinning. And one of the marks of a true believer is a true desire to be holy, backed by a lifestyle of true repentance. 

But it is a relief to know that we are not abandoned just because we make mistakes. When you sin, repent. When you fail, turn to the Lord. When you make an ungodly mistake, humbly turn to your friend, the Holy Spirit, the One Who never leaves you, the One Who stays faithful to you, even when you are unfaithful to Him. He is more loving than we are flawed, more patient than we are stubborn, more faithful than we are sinful. 

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The Holy Spirit is a Person

I want to share with you a Bible verse that literally changed my life. The truth of this verse has had a profound impact on both my life and ministry. Here’s that verse:

“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” - 2 Corinthians 13:14 (NLT)

So why is this verse so powerful? It reveals to us that the Holy Spirit is a Person. He’s not a thing, a force, an idea, or a shadow of God. After all, how could one fellowship with an idea? How could one share a friendship with a shadow?

Really think about the implications of such a truth: the Holy Spirit is a Person. I know you’ve likely heard that before. But just because a truth is often repeated does not mean that a truth is rightfully appreciated. 

The Holy Spirit is a person, which means He has a voice. 

“The Holy Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go over and walk along beside the carriage.’” - Acts 8:29 (NLT)

The Holy Spirit has a will.

“But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.” - 1 Corinthians 12:11 (KJV)

The Holy Spirit has feelings.

“And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.” - Ephesians 4:30 (NLT)

Think about this: the Holy Spirit has a voice, so it’s possible that He can be ignored. The Holy Spirit has a will, so it’s possible that He can be disobeyed. The Holy Spirit has feelings, so it’s possible that He can be hurt. 

Think about this too: The Holy Spirit has a voice, so it’s possible that He can be heard. The Holy Spirit has a will, so it’s possible that He can be obeyed. The Holy Spirit has feelings, so it’s possible that He can rejoice over our actions.

Indeed, the Holy Spirit is a Person, which means that He can befriend me. It was the simple idea that I could fellowship with the Holy Spirit as a friend that set me on a spiritual path leading into the deep things of God.

Friendship with the Holy Spirit - or fellowship - is a gift from God. In every moment of every day, you can abide in the presence of God. Because the Holy Spirit dwells in you, you can enjoy His presence even during the seemingly mundane moments of life. You don’t have to search for an atmosphere; you are an atmosphere. You don’t have to look to Heaven, for Heaven is in you. 

In my moments of sorrow, He hurts with me. In my victories, He celebrates with me. In my living through everyday occurrences, He is there. He brings life to my every moment. 

You are a friend of the Holy Spirit.

To learn more about the Holy Spirit, get your copy of Holy Spirit: God Within You at EncounterTheSpirit.com

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What is the Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit?

What is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit? Have you committed this unpardonable sin? 

The Word of God has the answers. Let’s take a look at the context. In Matthew chapter twelve, Jesus delivers a demon-possessed man.

Matthew 12:22-23

22 Then a demon-possessed man, who was blind and couldn’t speak, was brought to Jesus. He healed the man so that he could both speak and see. 23 The crowd was amazed and asked, “Could it be that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah?”

The pharisees, who had heard about the miracle, looked for a way to discredit the miracle that Jesus had performed. 

Matthew 12:24-29

24 But when the Pharisees heard about the miracle, they said, “No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons.” 25 Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart. 26 And if Satan is casting out Satan, he is divided and fighting against himself. His own kingdom will not survive. 27 And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists? They cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have said. 28 But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. 29 For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house.

After revealing the source of His power and authority (The Holy Spirit), Jesus gave the pharisees a sobering warning: 

Matthew 12:30-32

30 “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me. 31 “So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven—except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come.

Firstly, either the Pharisees had committed the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit or came very close to committing the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. I suspect they came close to committing the unpardonable sin, otherwise, why would Jesus give them a direct warning? 

Secondly, look at the term that’s used here: blasphemy. Blasphemy is a sin that you commit by speaking something. So we know that the pharisees were being warned, because of the words they had spoken. In fact, in verse 32, Jesus warns, “anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven.” Since blasphemy is a sin that you commit through sinful words, we can rule out sins that are commonly mistaken for the unpardonable sin. The blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is not suicide, murder, cussing, witchcraft, backsliding, evil thoughts, or sexual sin. It is a sin that you commit by what you say. 

Thirdly, we know that the unpardonable sin can be committed in this lifetime, for Jesus said that the one who commits it will never be forgiven, “either in this world or in the world to come.” Some say that the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is simply the rejection of salvation or the stubborn refusal of the gospel up until death. But that cannot be the case, since the unpardonable sin is unforgivable, even in this lifetime. So the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is most certainly not just the rejection of salvation.

So judging by what Jesus said to the pharisees, we can conclude that the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is speaking against the Holy Spirit or the attributing of the Holy Spirit’s power to demonic power.

But remember, we still don’t know whether or not the pharisees had already committed it or were merely coming close to committing it. The Biblical text implies a very deep-rooted form of sin. You can’t commit this sin on accident, yet we should still tread carefully. After all, I don’t want to inspire ease where Jesus sought to inspire fear.

And this is very important to note: Not all verbal expressions of skepticism, anger, disobedience, or disrespect toward the Holy Spirit can be categorized as the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. The blasphemy of the Holy Spirit can only come from a conscience that is completely seared. I’ll prove that to you with scripture now.

So have you committed the unpardonable sin? Let me read another verse to you.

John 6:37

However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them.

Nobody comes to Jesus unless they are drawn by the Father. And the Father certainly would never draw someone who couldn’t be forgiven. Therefore, if there is a desire in you to be forgiven and to be right with God, then you are being drawn by God - and Jesus will not reject you. Comparing scripture with scripture, we discover that 

A.) it is not possible for the Spirit-filled believer to commit this sin and 

B.) those who commit it couldn’t possibly have any interest in repentance, nor would they have any fear of having committed the unpardonable sin. 

All scriptures have to be harmonious with one another. So think about it this way: if someone commits the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, then they will always be rejected by God. And Jesus promised to never reject anyone who comes to Him, because those who come to Him have been drawn by the Father. If the one who committed the unpardonable sin ever came to the Lord, then the Lord would have to break His promise of never rejecting anyone who came to Him. Therefore, the one who has committed the unpardonable sin would never approach God in the first place. Indeed, such a person has no desire to ever again approach God. 

Bottom line: Are you afraid that you may have committed the unpardonable sin? That fear alone is proof that you haven’t. 

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Overcoming the Virus

Beyond the veil, lurking within the shadows of an unseen realm, demonic beings plot against the Church and plan attacks on God’s children. Whether you believe it or not, demons are real, spiritual warfare is real, and the supernatural realm impacts your daily life. 

Demons are not metaphors for evil - they are living, sentient beings with wills of their own. 

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12, NLT)

May God open our eyes to see Hell’s agenda. Being unleashed by Hell upon the earth right now is a virus. This virus spreads from person to person, multiplying itself rapidly and bringing destruction wherever it goes. This virus has the power to shut down economies, upset governments, and intimidate people into cowering in isolation. Make no mistake: this virus is lethal. This virus can intensify over time. And this virus must be stopped. This virus is, of course, the spirit of fear. 

Fear intimidates. Fear makes people pliable and easy to control. Fear makes people afraid to proclaim truth. And, if we’re not vigilant, fear itself will cause us to surrender freedom in the name of security. It will cause us to set aside faith in the name of wisdom. 

Whatever happens in the natural realm, remember that it is being influenced in the supernatural. The enemy, that is the Devil and his demons, is testing the water, testing to see what he can get away with, testing to see if it’s possible to control you with fear. He is observing, watching closely. And if you allow fear to control you now, I promise you the enemy will use fear again and in increasingly suppressive measures. 

Let those with spiritual eyes see. Let those with spiritual ears hear. I’m talking to you about a spiritual enemy. 

The moment you allow fear to grip your soul, it will continue to tighten its grip until it brings you to the point of paralysis.

But I thank God for His truth. For greater than the spirit of fear, greater than any demonic spirit, is the Holy Spirit. He brings with Him peace and faith - the cures for fear. 

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7, KJV)

Get your spiritual fight back. Allow righteous indignation to burn within you. Put the enemy in his place. Declare the truth of God’s Word over yourself, over your family, over your home, over your region. Lay claim upon the peace that God has given to you. Let your faith soar to new heights - let it shatter the tethers of fear. Shine a light in the midst of the darkness. 

Stand your ground against fear and remember this: If your father is the Father of lights, your future is bright. 

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The End of the Simulation

Jesus is coming. Are you ready for His return? Many will be caught off guard by the Lord’s return.

But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment. (2 Peter 3:10)

Think about what that verse is telling us. The heavens will pass away - the cosmos will cease to exist. The very elements themselves will disappear in fire. All of reality as we know it will dissolve. The sky will recede like a scroll. 

Years ago, I purchased a VR system to entertain guests. The amazing technology allows for people to visit multiple different digital worlds. I often watch as my friends try the VR system. Usually, they pick the underwater simulation. It’s funny to see them flinching at sharks that don’t really exist, reaching for objects that aren’t really there, and pointing to sights no one else can see. They become engrossed in the simulation, convinced of it. They may forget that I’m in the room with them, but I can see them clearly as they fumble around the room in awe. 

Then, when the simulation is over, they remove the headset and become adjusted to reality. 

“When the Lord returns, it will be similar: Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire…”

When the Lord finally returns, all of reality will dissolve. The heavens and the elements will pass away. God will shut down the simulation, and all will realize that He was in the room all along. 

Sure, there are those who mock, those who laugh at the idea that the Lord will return to this earth. But the Bible predicted that such an attitude would be present in the last days:

Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created. (2 Peter 3:3-4)

We mustn’t become so captivated by this reality that we forget about eternity. When you enter eternity, it will be more like waking up than falling asleep. The presence of God - that’s reality. All of this is only the simulation.

Jesus is coming. Are you ready for His return?

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The Key to Being Used by God

God wants to use your life for His glory. As a Spirit-filled believer, you carry the potential to become a vessel for God’s purposes. So what’s the key to being used by God?

To answer that, I want to take a look at the story of Jesus miraculously feeding a multitude.

Jesus soon saw a huge crowd of people coming to look for him. Turning to Philip, he asked, “Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?” He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do Philip replied, “Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have enough money to feed them!” (John 6:5-7)

So there was a need. By all natural standards, the situation seemed impossible to overcome. The crowd was too big, and the supply seemed inadequate. But then something became available.

Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up. “There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?” “Tell everyone to sit down,” Jesus said. So they all sat down on the grassy slopes. (The men alone numbered about 5,000.) Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted. (John 6:8-11)

A little boy offered to the Lord his food supply - five loaves of bread, two fish. Concerning the boy’s offering, Andrew asked a fair question: “But what good is that with this huge crowd?”

Jesus, seeming to ignore Andrew’s doubt-filled question, answered confidently, “Tell everyone to sit down..” Tell everyone to sit down? Jesus didn’t even address the doubt behind Andrew’s question. He simply responded with action, with demonstration.

Now the Bible tells us that that there were more than 5,000 people present - the men alone numbered 5,000. Let’s be conservative and assign only one child and one woman to each man. So at least 15,000 people were present and in need of food.

A big need; a seemingly small supply. But the need was met, and the crowd was fed. 

The boy offered what he had to Jesus - his five loaves of bread and two fish. Here’s what Luke’s gospel records Jesus doing with the bread:

Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread and fish to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. (Luke 9:16)

So what can we learn from this most remarkable story? 

The boy’s meal was not enough to meet the need. The boy’s meal needed to be surrendered to Jesus before it could be distributed. Jesus broke the bread before He multiplied it. In the boy’s hands, the food was not enough. 

In our hands, our lives are not enough to meet the needs of the world’s masses. But in the hands of Jesus, our nothing becomes everything. Brokenness precedes usefulness; surrender precedes the miraculous. 

There is no limit to what God can do with a life surrendered to the Holy Spirit. Put your life in the hands of God. Surrender. Let Him break you, mold you, create anew. Tell Him, “God, if you can use nothing, here I am.”

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How to Pray in Tongues: 4 Keys

Perhaps you’ve been asking the Lord for the gift of speaking in tongues but have been frustrated with the gift not manifesting. The Word of God holds the key to your breakthrough in this area. What I am about to share with you, I have seen work for thousands of sincere believers who were looking for this gift to manifest in their lives. 

I’m going to give you three simple, Biblical keys to speaking in tongues, but it’s important to know that this gift is not something that can necessarily be taught. All I can do is give you the Biblical truths that will help position you to receive, but only Jesus can baptize you with the fire of the Holy Spirit accompanied by the gift of speaking in tongues.

Here are three keys to releasing the gift of tongues: 

#1 Request

Yes, it really is that simple. You must ask God for the gift. And when you do ask, you don’t need to worry about receiving another spirit, because Jesus promised this: 

“You fathers—if your children aske for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.” (Luke 11:11-13, NLT)

#2 Realize

Once you’ve requested the gift of the Holy Spirit accompanied with the evidence of speaking in tongues, realize that you’ve received it. Don’t doubt it. Don’t debate it. Don’t question it. The gift is in you now, even if it hasn’t manifested yet. 

“…how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”

It’s that simple. I know that may be hard to believe sometimes, but that’s why you need to…

#3 Relax

No, I don’t mean relax in the New Age sense. I mean that you need to stop overthinking everything. I can tell you this: if you’re a sincere believer who is asking the Lord for this gift, then there is only one thing that is blocking the gift from manifesting through you. It all comes down to this: ego. It’s self. 

While you’re praying for the gift to manifest, you’re likely thinking and asking things like, “Is this just me? What if I get a demon? What if I upset God because this isn’t for me? How do I know this is really God? Everyone is looking at me. I’ll probably look silly. This is weird.” 

Stop cluttering your mind with questions, doubts, and insecurities. Are you going to look silly? Probably to some. But you’ll have to get over that if you want the fullness of what God has for you.

Make no mistake, this is the issue: self and ego. Your own overthinking is getting in the way. If it doesn’t work for you, if what I’m teaching you right now in this blog doesn’t work for you, and you’re a believer, this is why: it’s the overthinking and doubting. No matter how many times you try, it will always come back to that. So until you decide to stop allowing the overthinking to block the flow of the Spirit, you won’t receive. You might say, “Well, I’ve tried too many times and it never works for me.” But that’s what I’m trying to teach you. It hasn’t worked because you keep overthinking it. You must…

#4 Release

Just release the sound.

The Holy Spirit isn’t go to come up to you, physically grab your tongue, and begin moving it around. It’s not going to be something outside of your control. Paul the Apostle used all of 1 Corinthians 14 to teach you how to control the gift. Why would he instruct the Church to control the gift if the gift couldn’t be controlled? It’s up to you.

So what do you do now? Ask the Lord to give you the gift, realize that you can trust Him to give you the gift, relax and stop overthinking it; and then release the sounds. You may ask, “Is this just me?” And, yes, it will be - but only in part. The Holy Spirit will see your faith, and He will add His meaning to the sounds you surrender to Him. 

Praying in tongues is like starting you car. You have to turn the key, but the engine will move the car. Just turn the key. Give Him sounds, and you’ll know by faith that He will take it from there.

Stop doubting. Stop analyzing. Release the sound of faith now. Receive your prayer language. 

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NEW VIDEO: The Holy Spirit in Every Book of the Bible

This week, for my blog, I’m choosing to share with you a message that is very special to me. Please, watch and share this inspirational video filled with revelation on the Holy Spirit.

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Who is the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is Jesus without boundaries or limitations. Using technology as an analogy, one could say that the Holy Spirit is Jesus on the cloud. The Holy Spirit is the One who gives us boldness to evangelize. Think about what He did with Peter in Acts chapter two. The same man who once denied Jesus became one who boldly proclaimed the gospel. And for every time he denied Jesus, a thousand people came to the Lord. The Holy Spirit changed him from a man who denied Jesus three times to a man who won 3,000 people to the way of salvation.

The Holy Spirit stirs faith within the soul, causing us to believe God for the miraculous in ways we would not have otherwise believed. The Holy Spirit is the One Who helps us to pray - because no man or woman, no matter how anointed they are, knows the way into the presence of God. Only the Holy Spirit knows the way into the presence. 

In prayer, He guides us. In worship, He reveals Jesus and makes Him real, causing our hearts to be stirred and to burn with Holy fire to where we cannot contain that passion. That passion then overflows from us as adoration toward Jesus. 

The Holy Spirit is the One Who helps us to walk in holiness. So to those who are bound and weighed down by the shame and the sickness that is sin, He offers freedom. He is the holiness Spirit, the one Who breaks the power and the chains of even those habits that have kept us bound for years. He breaks those addictions. He shatters those bondages. The Holy Spirit is the One Who delivers the captives from demonic oppression. 

He gives us revelation of the Word. When we desire to see Jesus in the Word, the Holy Spirit causes the information from the Word to become revelation. And that revelation brings transformation. The Holy Spirit is the One Who goes with us everywhere, giving us the Words to speak when we don’t know what we should say. In those moment when we say, “Holy Spirit, help me. I don’t know how win this one to the Lord. I don’t know how to speak.” The Holy Spirit will then stir within you words that come straight from your Heavenly Father. 

The Holy Spirit is the One Who opens the heart of the sinner. He causes them to go from being stubborn, stone-hearted individuals to being people who bow before Jesus as Lord. The Holy Spirit is the one who anoints us for ministry and appoints us into the call of God. He takes ordinary lives and makes them lives that transform the world. A single moment spent in the presence of the Holy Spirit can transform your life, but a life spent in the presence of the Holy Spirit can transform the nations. 

The Holy Spirit is that something more, that deep stirring. What was it do you think that caused the martyrs to lay down their lives and say, “Take my blood; I want to preach the gospel - Jesus is Lord!” That’s the Holy Spirit Who sheds the love of God abroad in our hearts. The Holy Spirit is the One Who gives to us all of the promises of the Father, Who causes us to walk in the perfect will of God, not just day by day, but moment by moment.

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